Evil in this world

Do you believe that evil exists?

  

With great self-delusion, many people today do not.

  

I am not talking about "bad" things that happen to "good" people. Nor do I mean individuals whose wanton human natures bring them into repeated conflict with others.

I am talking about real evil, the pervasive darkness of spirit that invades one's mind, soul and body all at once.

  

Unseen but palpable evil.  Demonic evil.

Though many refuse to believe a spiritual realm even exists, St. Paul informs us this is where the Christian's fiercest battles are fought.

"We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)

Evil is living sin. Its author is Satan, and it commands the life of every person who has not received the new birth of the Holy Spirit through baptism in the name of Christ.

Evil inhabits one's being, and its lies are so convincing they sound like truth.

A friend told me about visiting a place where he  felt evil's presence, like an enveloping inescapable mist.

It is real, and many people struggle in its grip.

Alcohol and substance abuse, suicidal and murderous thoughts, and a host of other manifestations testify to the reality of evil.

Rejection of the Gospel of Christ, disobedience to the Word of God, Paul wrote, is the goal of the "prince of the power of the air." (Ephesians 2:2)

Evil does not enjoy the final word, however.

As he prepared to give up his life as a payment for all of the sins of this world, Jesus pronounced judgment against evil and its author saying, "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out." (John 12:31 NIV)

And as he was about to be arrested by his opponents he said, "The prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:11 NIV)

Satan is condemned, guilt is abolished and death is overcome in Christ, but evil persists in this world.  Its primary target is the people of God.

Here is God's command to us:

"Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV)

Evil - sin alive in the world - will remain until the day Christ returns. But we are not powerless against it. 

God has freely given us his strong defense - the shield of faith in his Son and the sword of his powerful Word.  

He has placed them in our hands.  But they are most effectively used with practice.  Are you becoming more efficient at swinging the sword of his Word, more forceful in handling the shield of faith?

By the way, I was always impressed by how well evil's darkness was portrayed in the movie, "Passion of the Christ." Here is a short, edited video of living evil seeming to conquer Jesus, only to have the tables turned by His cross!

Something Amazon can't deliver

Yesterday, while working on Sunday's sermon, I was forced to contemplate the incredible breadth and depth of the petitions offered to God that comprise the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

Each request is important.  Each could be a sermon subject on its own.  But I was especially drawn to the final petition - "but deliver us from evil" or "deliver us from the evil one."  Both are correct interpretations.

In this petition we tend to focus on the evil from which we seek deliverance.  However, the request is more interesting when we direct our attention to what is meant in the word "deliver."

Here is an example.  If I order a book online from Amazon I must first identify the item to be purchased, then make the item mine by purchasing it.  But the deal isn't done until possession of the book is transferred from Amazon's hands into mine.

"Deliver us from evil" is both a plea and a reminder that God rescued us from the hands of the evil one and brought us into his own care and protection.  We belong to him.

Here is how he delivered you to himself.  (Notice how God did all the work.)

He identified you as one of his own by giving you his name when you were  baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He purchased you with the blood of his only Son, Jesus, who died and rose again to make you presentable to God.  And through the Gospel he caused faith to arise in you, placing his Spirit in you so you would trust his promise of unending life with him.

Delivery complete!  A delivery Amazon can't match.

If the Amazon example fell short, here is a video of a water rescue that helps visualize one's delivery from the hands of the evil one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voU0ayp2KRI

Pastorich